HARRISBURG – A new law authored by Senator Scott Martin (R-13) could help more local taxpayers benefit from school property tax discounts and extended payment deadlines.
Act 75 of 2020 gives each school district the option to extend property tax discount periods and remove penalties for late payments through June 30, 2021. The law gives school districts the power to help more taxpayers who are struggling financially in the wake of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Martin said.
“There are still many Pennsylvanians who are waiting to receive money from unemployment, and many others are dealing with the fallout of reduced hours, closed businesses and other uncertainties created by COVID-19 and the government’s response to the virus,” Martin said. “This law provides an avenue for school districts to lend a helping hand to families that are struggling to recover from the economic devastation of the past several months.”
The new law mirrors another law that Martin authored in April that allows counties and municipalities to provide property tax relief to taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. That law gives county and municipal governments the option to extend deadlines for property tax discount rates to any date up until August 31, and waive any fee or penalty for late payments of property taxes if paid in full by the end of the year.
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535